Critical analysis of the awakening from a feminist perspective

During that same time, Deborah E. Walker views Edna as a character guided by destiny, and that her life is a pattern of decisions made on a purely emotional level: These women are the examples that the men around Edna contrast her with and from whom they obtain their expectations for her.

Seyersted, Per, and Emily Toth, eds.

The sea is a sensual, comforting image, and it draws Edna into its embrace much like a mother. Today, writers like Gloria E.

Works Cited Chopin, Kate. More specifically, modern feminist criticism deals with those issues related to the perceived intentional and unintentional patriarchal programming within key aspects of society including education, politics and the work force. She is emotionally unequipped to deal with awakening and is unable to live within society according to the ideals she has established for herself, illustrated through her suicide and the events preceding it.

Edna attempts to find self-definition by creating a third lifestyle option and beginning to act like a man. Edna is fighting against the societal and natural structures of motherhood that force her to be defined by her title as wife of Leonce Pontellier and mother of Raoul and Etienne Pontellier, instead of being her own, self-defined individual.

In the beginning of the novel she is impulsive and childlike. By employing a wide range of female sexual exploration and lesbian and queer identities by those like Rita Felski and Judith Bennet, women were able attract more attention about feminist topics in literature.

Therefore Edna is left without any choices. Some decided to analyze the Black experience through their relationship to the Western world.

After this potential has been brought to her attention, Edna cannot imagine herself living the asexual, artistic lifestyle of Mademoiselle Reisz, even if it might be a way to find the individuality that she is searching for. Edna is definitely a more sexual being now than previously in the novel.

Edna enjoys a rewarding friendship with Mademoiselle Reisz, however, she finds the lonely artistic lifestyle to be imperfect due to its lack of sexuality. The main difference between Edna and Chopin is found in their upbringing.

Her suicide is an act of liberation, therefore Edna is the ultimate feminist. Persons who are insane, deaf, dumb or blind.

Women had little rights and were considered property of their husbands. She has finally decided what she wants and is willing to act upon those impulses.

She is also more reserved. Edna has come full circle, and now she is trying to return to the most childlike state, that of the fetus. Her main inspiration is immediate pleasure and she acts mainly on impulse.Kate Chopin’s The Awakening was a bold piece of fiction in its time, and protagonist Edna Pontellier was a controversial character.

She upset many nineteenth century expectations for women and their supposed roles. One of her most shocking actions was her denial of her role as a mother and wife.

Feminist literary criticism is literary criticism informed by feminist theory, or more broadly, by the politics of feminism. It uses the principles and ideology of feminism to critique the language of literature. Feminist literary criticism is literary analysis that arises from the viewpoint of feminism, feminist theory and/or feminist politics.

Basic methods of feminist literary criticism include: Identifying with female characters: This is a way to. Feminist Protagonists in The Awakening and A Doll's House - The Feminist Protagonists in The Awakening and A Doll's House The idea of women's liberation is a common theme in both Kate Chopin's The Awakening and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.

Critical Analysis Of The Awakening From A Feminist Perspective Running Head: “THE AWAKENING ” FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE In Kate Chopin’s novel, “The Awakening ”, Edna finds herself in a society where women were socially confined to be mothers and wives.

There is extensive critical controversy surrounding the ending of Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening. One group of critics focuses on the novel as a feminist text. They argue that Edna Pontellier’s awakening is one of mental clarity, and her suicide is a triumphant act.